Squashed by Joan Bauer

Joan Bauer is one of those authors that manages to write fairly low action stories that are completely engaging. When you tell the plot of “Squashed” it sounds a little silly. Ellie, a 16 year-old girl struggling with her weight and school life, tries yet again to beat her evil neighbor at the annual pumpkin contest (to grow the largest pumpkin). What becomes clear, however, is that Ellie is a real, funny, complex and very human character that is easy to connect to. As a reader, you start rooting for her. As an older reader, it was easy to see how the obsessive focus on pumpkins helped fill the void left by her mother’s death. This is not a sad book, though. It has charm and sensitivity, and just a touch of romance. It is life through orange colored glasses (sorry, couldn’t resist). A warm-hearted tale for crispy fall weather, it’s a fast read that will put a smile on your face. If you want an outright guffaw, check out “Thwonk!” by the same author. In this story, a similarly strong-willed girl meets the cupid from heck.